Phylicia Fant Joins Amazon Music as Head of Music Industry Partnerships (EXCLUSIVE)

In a recent Instagram Live, Nicki Minaj insisted young women in the music industry haven’t experienced as much hate as they think they have.

Nicki Minaj has claimed that young women receiving hate in the music industry are merely experiencing “growing pains” when compared to what she has been through.Minaj made the comments during an Instagram Live conversation with rapper Coi Leray, who collaborated with Minaj on their recent song ‘Blick Blick’, and is 15 years her junior. During the conversation, Leray mentioned that her success had come in the face of “hate” that she had received.

Good afternoon and welcome to Sunday's news briefing.

previously reiterated that even with the shift to a streamer like Amazon, they’re determined to make sure future Bond movies still have a “worldwide, theatrical audience.” Amazon, too, has been increasingly focused on prioritizing streaming, and it’s unclear how Amazon might handle a theatrical window with MGM films.De Luca though had been expected to stay aboard and continue developing film projects on his own that fall within the MGM wheelhouse. Some recent releases that he landed or have greenlit have included the Best Picture nominee “Licorice Pizza,” the musical “Cyrano,” Ridley Scott’s “House of Gucci,” Channing Tatum’s “Dog” and the upcoming remake of “Fiddler on the Roof,” to name a few.

took herself out of the running to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year — “I don’t feel that I have earned that right,” she said in an Instagram post— she revealed that she hopes to one day be “worthy” of another nomination.“This has … inspired me to put out a hopefully great rock ’n’ roll album at some point in the future, which I have always wanted to do!” she said.And if Johnny Cash could work with Rick Rubin and Loretta Lynn could collaborate with Jack White, then certainly Parton could get some rock love.Rundgren — who in addition to being inducted into the RRHOF last year as an artist, has produced everyone from Badfinger and the New York Dolls to Meat Loaf’s “Bat Out of Hell” — would love to collaborate with Parton behind the boards. “Who wouldn’t?” Rundgren, 73, said.“She’s made so many records, has so much experience, you know there’s not going to be any sort of funny business about doing it.

EXCLUSIVE: Here’s a hot one. Jodie Comer is to star in a series based on Jen Beagin’s upcoming book Big Swiss.

Chris Willman Music WriterThe state of the art for emerging Black performers in country music will be the subject of a feature-length documentary that has been produced by Amazon Music, titled “For Love & Country,” which was announced Tuesday morning as having a premiere date set for the music streaming service and Prime Video on April 7.The arrival of the film will be preceded by Amazon Original recordings by some of the documentary’s featured artists, starting with a new acoustic rendering by Amythyst Kiah of her signature song, “Black Myself,” that’s out today.Although the announcement of the doc does not include “Americana,” the lineup of artists featured in interviews and performances in the film includes about equal measures of singer-songwriters who are up-and-coming in mainstream country and those are are generally considered part of the alternative-roots or Americana realm. Mickey Guyton, who recently performed the National Anthem at the Super Bowl, is featured, as is Jimmie Allen, who has become one of the leading men of country with three of his singles becoming No.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorSony Music Entertainment Latin-Iberia has struck a new partnership with WK Records, the record label founded by WK Entertainment CEO-founder Walter Kolm.WKR artists include reggaeton star Alex Rose, Grammy-nominated/ Latin Grammy-winning producer-artist Foreign Teck, singer-songwriter Emilia, Argentine trap artist Seven Kayne, and Colombian artist Cheo Gallego, with more signings to be announced in the coming weeks.WKR is led by CEO and WKE head of music Horacio Rodriguez (who joined last year after 15 years at Universal Music Latin), with a pop and urban division led by WKR GM/co-founder Oscar Guitián, and a regional Mexican division led by producer-composer-executive Alberto De León, who previously held roles at Universal, Capitol Latin, Machete Music and  Fonovisa/Disa. “We have an incredible relationship with the entire WK family,” said Sony Latin-Iberia chairman-CEO Afo Verde.

Chris Willman Music WriterKanye West has added a high-profile media figure to his executive ranks, naming Jason Lee, the founder-CEO of Hollywood Unlocked, to his team under the title of head of media and partnerships.Lee shared his take on joining forces with West with Variety prior to the official announcement going out Friday. He says that his appointment was an outgrowth of the camaraderie he established with the superstar musician doing a video interview for Hollywood Unlocked that went up last month.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe Recording Academy has announced the appointment of Ryan Butler as vice president of diversity, equity & inclusion, effective immediately. He fills a role previously occupied by Valeisha Butterfield Jones, who was promoted to co-president last year, and to whom Butler will report.Butler leads diversity, equity and inclusion internally and externally for the Recording Academy and its affiliates.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAmazon has ordered two seasons of an animated comedy from Ramy Youssef, Variety has learned exclusively. The series is part of new first-look deal Youssef and his Cairo Cowboy production banner have signed with the streamer.Youssef leads Cairo Cowboy with Andy Campagna, the former senior vice president of television for Sam Esmail’s Esmail Corp.“Ramy has only scratched the surface of his incredible creative gifts,” said Vernon Sanders, head of global television for Amazon.

Kate Moss is one of the most famous and talented supermodels, and while the British icon has had a successful and controversial career in the modeling industry, it seems her 24-year-old half-sister might be following her steps.Charlotte Moss, best known as Lottie Moss, is making headlines for her large social media platform, constantly sharing her life, including some of her struggles with addiction. She also has a strong social media presence in OnlyFans, where she shares exclusive content with fans and followers.At age 16, Charlotte signed her first modeling contract with Storm Model Management, and was involved in multiple campaigns and covers, including her own cover in Vogue Paris.

defending Ukraine, amid the conflict caused by Russia’s invasion in the Easter European country.The 32-year-old actress, who shares a 7-year-old daughter from her previous relationship with Ukrainian former professional boxer Wladimir Kitschko, announced she would help raise donations for medical supplies and protective gear.Hayden posted a video on YouTube sharing her thoughts about the tragic conflict and talked about her organization Hoplon International, “There are no words to describe what it’s been like to watch the war in Ukraine unfold.”She continued, “It’s gut-wrenching knowing that the people of Ukraine, the people I call my friends and family are desperately trying to defend their way of life in the country that they love.”The Hollywood star says she “created Hoplon International to bring relief and aid directly to Ukrainians on the frontlines,” declaring that she “can’t continue sitting on the sidelines as this disaster rages on.”Hayden urged everyone to donate and explained that the organization will ensure direct aid to the people affected, “Please, please don’t sit by idly. Help me by donating any amount that you can.

The ultimate woman crush! Dolly Parton’s career has spanned music, movies, multiple business ventures and more — and she’s shown no sign of slowing down.

Anna Marie de la Fuente Barcelona-based Scenic Rights, the leading literary rights broker for Spanish-language film and TV series, has officially opened its Mexico City office as it continues to expand its purview across key territories, including Madrid, Los Angeles and most recently, Prague.The Mexico City office opening, delayed twice by the pandemic, kicks off operations on Monday March 7. According to Scenic Rights CEO, Sydney Borjas, the company’s Mexican branch will oversee more than 30 book to film-TV project adaptations, mostly into series.Ana Karen Larios, previously a foreign rights manager at VF Literary Agency, has been tapped as Scenic Rights’ content manager in Mexico and will report to the agency’s Chief Operating Officer Ignacio Diaz.

Preview in new tabDolly Parton’s upcoming novel will take a “dark,” autobiographical turn. The country singer/actress/businesswoman — who joined forces with best-selling “Alex Cross” writer James Patterson, 74, for their thriller, “Run, Rose, Run” — recently teased that it’s a cautionary look into the shadows of the music industry.“It shows a lot of the dark side of that – people that have been in it, like me, you know that, because you’ve lived it,” Parton, 76, told “CBS Sunday Morning” reporter Lee Cowan for a story airing this weekend.The novel tells the tale of a Rose, a young country singer/songwriter from Nashville who realizes that fame and fortune are both not all that they’re cracked up to be.

A woman whose death sparked a murder investigation has been named as Lisa Price.

Heidi Klum has released the music video for her debut single!

Jenna Bush Hager is always proud of her pal, Hoda Kotb. ET's Rachel Smith spoke with the 40-year-old co-host on Wednesday, and Bush Hager revealed why she was proud of Kotb for how she handled the announcement of her split from Joel Schiffman on the show.«I am proud of Hoda every single day,» Bush Hager said.

Anna Tingley If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission.Amazon saw a slight increase in the price of a Prime subscription last month but members still get so many perks that the marginal uptick shouldn’t make much of a difference.The latest perk, exclusively for Prime members, is a limited-time deal that brings down the price of streaming platform Starz to only $0.99 per month. Starz would normally cost $7.99 a month, either on its independent website or through Prime Video Channels.Plus, the streaming deal comes with a subscription to Amazon Music (normally $9.99 a month) as part of the package — which means you get unlimited access to both platforms for a full three months, until the deal expires.